Breakdown of De notaris zal u informeren inzake het contract.
u
you (formal)
zullen
shall / will
het contract
the contract
de notaris
the civil law notary
Questions & Answers about De notaris zal u informeren inzake het contract.
What exactly does inzake mean in this sentence?
Inzake is a formal preposition that translates to regarding, concerning, or in the matter of. It is used primarily in legal, administrative, or business contexts, which perfectly fits a sentence about a notary and a contract.
Could I just use over instead of inzake here?
Grammatically, yes. You can say informeren over het contract (to inform about the contract). However, over is an everyday word. Using inzake elevates the sentence to a formal, professional register appropriate for legal matters. Other formal options you are learning, like omtrent or aangaande, would also work here.
Why is the formal pronoun u used instead of je?
The choice of u matches the high-register vocabulary of the sentence. When you are dealing with a formal figure like a notaris and using highly formal prepositions like inzake, using the informal je would clash with the professional tone.
Is a notaris exactly the same as a notary public in English-speaking countries?
Not quite, and this is an important cultural false friend for B2 learners. A Dutch notaris (civil law notary) is a highly trained lawyer who drafts binding legal documents like property deeds, wills, and contracts. Because their role is much more extensive than a standard notary public, sentences involving them typically use formal, legal language.